Ansonia candidates focus on economy

Michael P. Mayko

Updated 11:49 pm, Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Republican mayoral candidate Dave Cassetti speaks at the party's headquarters in downtown Ansonia, Conn. on Wednesday October 9, 2013. Cassetti announced his platform which includes, among other things; cutting taxes, crerating a cost cutting commission, creating a city manager position and providing relief for senior citizens.
Photo: Christian Abraham

ANSONIA -- A 13-point tax increase has given Republicans an issue and a shot to gain aldermanic seats, if not the town chief executive's post.

The GOP has even set up shop directly across the street from City Hall, detailing party's quest -- "Next Stop City Hall" -- on a banner across the front.

But Mayor James DellaVolpe, who is seeking an eighth two-year term, said all this has done "is make me more determined."

Unlike his incumbent Valley counterparts, DellaVolpe agreed to debate his Republican opponent, squaring off recently against David Cassetti at Ansonia High School. And much like his days of quarterbacking the high school football team in the mid-1960s, DellaVolpe has kept a game, trying to defuse the heat of a tax hike by citing plans to grow the tax base.

"I think we're on the right track," the mayor said. He pointed to the January sale of two buildings in the Farrell Foundry complex that are planned for ground- floor retail businesses and upper-floor housing, as well as the ongoing industrial park construction on Fountain Lake.

But more exciting, DellaVolpe said, was the recent hiring of Peter Kelly as economic development director.

"He's a real superstar," DellaVolpe said of Kelly, who held a similar job in New Mexico.

The mayor is hopeful that the state and Derby will agree to regionalize the city's school system (Derby High School only graduated five dozen seniors last year) and water treatment facilities.

"Not only will this benefit both cities," he said, "but it will save taxpayers' money."

Finally, DellaVolpe is hopeful that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will approve the city's proposal to demolish its Riverside Apartment housing project and allow the land to stay as open space.

Heading into Tuesday's election, Derby's 4,791 unaffiliated voters total almost the same as the combination of 3,597 registered Democrats and 1,354 Republicans.

Cassetti, a former boxer, has made like Muhammad Ali, showing up at Board of Alderman meetings and attacking the mayor for failing to phase in revaluation.

What happened was that the economic crisis and the housing bust devalued much of the city's 1900-era multi-family housing, particularly on the densely populated west side. As a result, the 13-point increase translated into a 39.34 mill rate, making Ansonia the ninth-highest taxed community among the state's 169 municipalities.

"I'm more like Rocky Marciano," Cassetti said. "I'm going for the knockout."

So he hammers away at the spiraling taxes, the lack of economic development and a school system that receives poor grades.

But DellaVolpe has tossed a few haymakers of his own -- about Cassetti's late payments of taxes owed by his businesses.

"It's just mind-boggling you would run for this position and not have everything in order," the mayor charged during their Oct. 24 debate.

Cassetti apologized for the late payment, blaming it on "juggling" so many jobs.